THE clock started ticking down to yesterday’s title triumph the second that last season ended in runners-up heartbreak, Ashley Giles revealed.

THE clock started ticking down to yesterday’s title triumph the second that last season ended in runners-up heartbreak, Ashley Giles revealed.

After being pipped by Lancashire for top spot on the very last day of the 2011 campaign, Giles and his side have been determined not to endure such agony again.

“There has been a real combined push and effort from everyone from when we first got together in November last year and talked about how we could go one step further,” the director of cricket said. “Jim reminded me that after the final day last year I asked them how we ensure this doesn’t happen again and said we stop it happening by winning it with one game to go this year.

“It is brilliant that we have done that and I am very proud of the players. They have worked incredibly hard and deserve every bit of the success they have got.

“My message at the start of this game was pretty clear: that there was an opportunity to go out there and make some history so let’s take it and not wait for the moment to pass by.

“Chances like that don’t come along very often.

“This team can improve further yet, make no mistake about that. I could be here until Christmas picking holes in things but only because I am only driven for the team to do well. I expect them to work hard and they have really bought into that which makes it a privilege to coach these guys.